Toto Wolff has heaped praise on Valtteri Bottas’ “enormous” contribution to its 2018 Formula 1 title success, insisting that the Finn has improved this season.
Bottas took three wins to place third in last year’s Drivers’ Championship but this year holds a win-less fourth and is now just a handful of points clear of Max Verstappen.
Bottas, though, has finished runner-up in seven Grands Prix and was only a handful of laps shy of triumphing in Azerbaijan before a puncture thwarted his hopes, while in Russia he was instructed to let Lewis Hamilton through for the win.
Mercedes clinched its fifth successive Constructors’ Championship at last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix in the wake of Hamilton’s 10th victory of the season.
Wolff was eager to highlight Bottas’ role – and believes the 29-year-old will emerge as a stronger challenger in 2019.
“Valtteri had a trickier season than Lewis, but he has improved his performance this year and played a vital role for this championship success,” said Wolff.
“His contribution was enormous.
“Until the Baku incident where he lost 25 points he was properly in the fight for the championship and since then it has gone against him.
“He’s kept his dignity and played a big role in supporting the team, without losing his stature as a racing driver, and as a racing driver that can win.
“And I think he’s [had] an enormous mental struggle to know that you can’t win anymore and you need to support your team-mate, and he’s achieved that.
“And I think he will come back strong next year and will give Lewis and all the others a run for their money.”
Bottas needs to win in Abu Dhabi to avoid becoming the first Mercedes driver since 2012 to go through a season without a victory.
